WinterX was more like AutumnX with a sprinkle of mud...

Its December 4th, 2011 in the PACNW and the majority of people have transitioned from autumn activities to their winter pursuits. However, several Mongers were not willing to let go of the autumn past-time yet. Unlike earlier races the departure from PDX took place in total darkness. While Glen and I traded stories about wanting to sleep-in we drove on to the Washougal motocross track.
Glen was joined by Jamie (recent b-day boy) in the beginners race. My camera was toasted for batteries so I had to rely on the GPMC photographers. Here is one of Jamie that I found(if you click on the link it will tell you that you are leaving the page, just hit back when your done looking at the photo): Jamie: http://leonardjohnson.zenfolio.com/p15792214/h36548ae7#h36548ae7

Karl jumped in the Clydesdales race and he looked like he was enjoying himself, heck he always looks like he is enjoying himself:

Karl: http://leonardjohnson.zenfolio.com/p15792214/h36548ae7#h25ae33a5

Bill was our sole rider in the Cat. C race and admitted that he was not feeling it (too much as Jamie's b-day party!) but as always Bill-dozer mowed down the course and had fun staying upright on some of the technical turns and steep mud drops.

Bill: http://leonardjohnson.zenfolio.com/p15792214/h36548ae7#h222c0403

Our last riders of the day were the Mstr C's. That included Ryan, Sean and myself. All three of us started in the top third of the pack. At 52 riders this was a light Msters C group. Ryan and Sean bolted off as I figured out if the late night at Jeff Gamer's 5oth B-day was the right kind of pre-race preparation.
Prior to the race I let some additional air out of my tires because I had spun out going around a few corners during the pre-ride. It still took me a lap to get comfortable with all the ups and downs of the course. I was right behind Ryan when he rolled down a steep drop into a mud pit and bounced off the course.

I kept pushing the nice, cold air down my lungs as the bourbon poured out in the form of sweat. I was looking for Sean but I could not see him yet. This course had some really painful little hills that zapped all your energy and one big sucker that started after a barrier, with no momentum. Nothing like Rainer but these felt like 'death by a million little hills.' By lap three I had a visual on my target as I headed out on a out-and-back: Sean Stroup was four or five riders ahead!!!

I kept pushing that bourbon out and by the start of lap 5 i had passed the 4-5 riders between us but Sean was still a 100 ft. ahead. With all the twists and turns on this course I had trouble reeling him in. I would make a push on a straight away only to find that he smoothly made it around a technical section where I needed to brake. The bike stayed upright and I kept pushing but he saw me coming and he floored it. He was far enough ahead that I could not catch him within the last 1/2 mile of the course.


Within that last 1/2 mile I had my own problems when three riders passed me going down hill, damn single chain ring. Now I had to fight for my position of finishing right behind Sean. All three of them hit the run-up before I did but at the top one clipped his bike on a stake and toppled over which allowed me to continuing running while the other two tried to remount there. I remounted last but i was out in front of these three and started the last climb...one of the guys caught me but I was happy with that as my body was entering a hang-over induced translucent state of pain. I could not catch Sean and I tip my hat to him as we have had some very fun races this season and he has just been getting better all season. Nice race Sean!! Good luck in Bend this weekend and I look forward to re-connecting on some MTB, short track or next cross season.


Final results for the Mongers Mstr C's at WinterX were impressive: Sean finished in 8th (10th overall for the GPMC - CONGRATS!), I finished 10th and Ryan was 25th out of 52. Next year the Mongers Mstr Cs is going to be brutally competitive. Time to hit the trainer ;)

When I rode my first X race I was hooked on the competition but of course I never thought I would be fighting it out at the top level of any category. That takes serious biking dedication that my climbing interests would not allow (only so much time). However, as the BMCC started forming I began to hear from the Lady Mongers about their 'nemesis' that they would see and race against every weekend. Being that the Mens Cats are so big its hard to find riders who consistently come out. What I have learned is the internal team rivalries are just as good for pushing one another towards the finish line and better results. I guess in a non-team sport, such that cycling is, that is what your teammates are for: pushing you during the race and drinking beer after the race.

All the best to everyone for a Happy Holiday it has been a great Cross season!!

Save the date of Thursday, January 26th, 2012 for the BMCC season ending party at the Beermongers where we will give out the Rider of the Year award and the Mongrel of the Year award.

Cheers,
TC

Kruger's Farm was frosty...sunny...then muddy....

As I spun the van out going over the Howell-Bybee bridge to Sauvie Island I remembered that the same thing happened last year. Cold early morning bridges are notorious for being slippery. As I pulled down the driveway past the Kruger sheds my memory of last year's frozen Beg. race went right down my spine like the first crack of winter. The difference was the sun was on full blast this year and it would warm up soon enough.Tim and Chris (Team S&M) helped put the tent up before their race. Things were a little crusty out there but Jamie jumped into the mix and these Mongers kept their kits clean and finished in the top half. Great result lads!!!!
Kyle 'Hammerin' Heddy was holding down the Mongers representation in the Cat. Cs and he was up to his normal ham-jiving as he rolled past our tent. But I caught him being real serious just before the race began.
Sean and I were set-up for a real battle in the Mster Cs. We had both been out late the night before and we were both called up (for per-registering) and we were neck-and-neck for most of the first lap. He pulled away at the beginning of lap two but I kept pushing and I did my best to keep him close enough. I finally caught up with on lap 5 and we were shoulder-to-shoulder heading up the stairs. Damn my bike weighed an extra 10 pounds with all that mud on it.

He remounted quicker then I did but I made sure not to fall back too far. My plan was to try and pass him on one of straight-ways in front of our tent...but the dreams were dashed as I cruised out of the shed my chain snapped. I was left with a half baked plan and Stroup heading off to a Beermonger Mstr C victory and 17th overall. Nice ride brotha....it was real fun while it lasted. I will be back for WinterCross!!!! All was not lost as the first rule of CX is to finish the race...I ran the last mile of the last lap and left with my chin-up.

When I got back to the tent to change Duke was lickin his chops and getting ready for Doggie Cross...BMCC jersey and all!!

Emily raced with Walter and the results have not been confirmed but rumor has it that this Speedy Team from Northfield, MN won the Lap Dawg Category. That's it we need to get Wally a BMCC jersey...yo Bill any super Xtra Small Kids jerseys left?

Due to a schedule change and Beth's rallying for a Cat. A race the next group of riders included the last of our crew for the day: Beth (Women's A), Nick (Cat. B) and Jer (Singlespeed).
It worked out that we could all hang-out after the top notch racers finished up and enjoy a few holiday beers...The holidays are here for sure.

This autumn has to go down as one of the best 'on' or 'off' record...Sundays won't be the same without all the panting, smiling, muddy faces of the cyclocross season. The conditions were kind of dry this season but we all 'up'd our game' and had fun in the rain/shine. I look forward to planning a cool BMCC bike tour trip for the coming spring. Thanks for all the fun times and I look forward to seeing you all at WinterX, Cascade Cross or on that white stuff in the mountains. The BMCC is the best for sure!

PIR part 2...slippery, sleezy grass and peanut butter mud...

The last Cross Crusade race provided the best opportunity of the season to experience the PACNWs nasty conditions. With heavy rain all week the somewhat flat course became a deep mud pit in the low areas and a slippery, slimy course on off camber sections. The MTB folks ate this up and it left me thinking I need some more bike handling skills. Add the tough course a large and rowdy crowd, the Original 'OG Beermonger' in attendance and that was the scene.

Tim and Jamie got us started off in the Beg. race and even though they made the course hard by removing the sticky grass we cheered them on anyway. Jamie was going so fast I barely caught him in the frame...woooosh!!!

Our boyz in the Cat. Cs looked real intent on doing well in the last Crusade race. Hammerin Heddy was half in focus, half out on a technical steep down hill. Where is my cousin I heard him say.
Billdozer came extremely close to knocking over the team's photographer as he plied his way through the trees and close to the tape. "Take the outside line, take the outside line," is all he could hear.
Abey-baby came off the IR (with a season long calf strain) and did his best to keep the kit clean by not falling over. His technical skills were on full display!
Next were the Mster Cs which was covered by Ryan and I. Luckily for me I did not take any photos of me wiping out into a briar patch, running my bike through technical sections, getting lapped by the leader 50 ft. from the finish line or any of the other embarrassing things that happened to me that day. The course was technical and even though some sections were fun I could never settle in and just race. It was an educational day for sure.

Beth was our only Lady Monger on this day and she held up her end of the bargain by power through the mud and using finesse in the technical sections.
Andrew and Jer rode in the single speed race which outside of Rainer this one seemed equally challenging due to the heavy mud. Nice work dudes!!!

Good ole Wags kept his tongue in his mouth and his 'do-rag' on his head this week and worked his game in the Bs.
All-in-all it was a great day shared with friends...this last picture shows some current, potential (future BMCC riders), and possibly some returning Mongers. See ya next week at Kruegers.

Bawton Pawk....Sunshine & Sombreros...

Sunday at Barton Park 'the Gravel Pit' was an awesomely sunny day with a nice little nip in the air to remind you that it is autumn. Last year this course made legends out of all those who attempted it...the large mud puddles...steep, downhill off camber section...the whoop-di-dos through the woods...and the two long run ups. The race is commonly referred to as 'Brutal Barton!' This year the Mongers had another impressive showing with over ten riders hitting the rather dry 2 mile track. Porter and Brently showed-up for their first race of the year. Nice work guys!! The first one is always the hardest.

Porter getting ready to pass a Trusty Switchblade rider...he was riding so fast my camera could barely focus.

Glen rolled into the 'gravel pit' after a big night out but he put in a strong performance and I am sure he purified most of his body by the finish line. These guys were also joined by Jamie, best Monger Beg. finish. Good job! And Jim but unfortunately he got a flat on some of the rocks that littered the course.

Ryan, Sean and I fought it out with 140+ guys in the Master Cs and Sean came in with a very impressive 17th place finish, best of the day for the Mongers. Well done Sean!!! With the sun out and nice weather above the smiles shined through a dust free Camp BMCC!! It was so nice that I need a Sombrero to keep the sun off my bald head...the skull caps were too hot but the leftover Halloween prop was a perfect portable shade.

No Lady-Mongers today, boooowhooo :( but Andrew and Jer were both in the Singlespeed race which had a good sized field.

Many of the BMCCers moved to the further reaches of the course to help support our afternoon riders during the growl run-ups. We named ourselves, " da Mongers in the Woods!!!"
Nick 'this course is so fast I am going to wag my tongue' Wagner held his own in the Bs. He was caught wagging his tongue and hamming it up for the cameras while fending off four guys on lap 5.
In the words of Ali G all BmCC riders and supporters get, "Mad respect!!!" for coming out and enjoying the nice weather and great races. I will be sending an email this week that will preview the final three races, provide you info. about ordering caps, info. about Thriller CX in Bellingham on Dec. 17th and the possibility of another sweatshirt order. Have a great week!!!!

Lots of Smiles...Sun...Beermongers & Dust...

Cross Crusade arrived in Bend, OR for Halloween weekend and the dust was flying....The Beermongers were in full effect with the best showing of the year. Tim and Glen held it down in the beginners race and our two ginger buddies are having some serious battles.

As normal we had a huge group of Mongrels in the Cat. C race. However I was unable to post the video right here so look for on Facebook. A strong group of C riders and then Hammerin' Heddy coming from behind with a BLAST of speed. Enjoy the vid.

Karl has bumped himself into the Clydesdale field, well done.


Stroup and I were in the Mster Cs...where you at Ryan? I feel naked without the big Temple to hide behind.

Lots of nice ladies in the ladies race. Kim was killing it, for S&M, in the A's but our Lady Mongers stole the show. By now everyone has seen the 'Shot Ski' photo on CyclingOregonAction but Beth, Alissa and Kelley kicked up the dust like they were ridin' a bull in the Sisters Rodeo.


Jer was absent but apparently Andrew has decided to stick with the Singlespeed and he was our only rider in that Cat. Nick 'Nico' Wagner was on full display, with healed face, in the B race and even though the east-siders thought they could hang with Wags? He BLEW'um UP!

We finished the evening washing down the day's dust with some beers while watching the Clydesdale of the Universe race.


Sunday was another day at Camp Sand...shoot I thought Burning Man was supposed to be Burning?

and of course the costumes.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly at DC CX V....

The Good: I had to travel to Washington, D C for work so I decided to tote my CX bike with me to compete against some East Coast peeps at the annual DC CX race. The weather was sunny and in the mid 60s at an event that was sponsored by Dogfish Head Brewery (yummy!). I had no problems rebuilding my bike after I had boxed it for the trip. Everything was set...

The Bad: I had signed-up for the Masters Cat. 1/2/3 race, a week before, thinking that they would release the 1s, 2s, and 3s with broken intervals. Upon looking further at the event website the day before I realized that I had signed-up for a race that included anyone who normally raced in Masters Categories 1, 2, or 3 with no interval starts, ITS OPEN SEASON, brah! Once at registration I tried to sign-up for the Cat. 3/4 race but it was full (they have limits). I knew I was in trouble during line-ups when everyone's bike was way nicer then mine, there were lots of skin suits, fancy shoes/sunglasses and there were only 50 riders. Uh oh!!

The Ugly: I knew I was in deeper trouble when the starter blew his whistle and I was at the back within the first sprint section. I mean I did start in the back row already... I was in way over my head. My goal was not to get lapped. By lap four I had to pick a new goal as the top 5-6 riders flew past me like I was on a unicycle. Alas I found my target another guy who was in over his head but within my sights. By lap 5 I tracked him down and passed him ensuring that I did not DFL...lapped but not destroyed I basked in the post-race sun and enjoyed a few Dogfish brews very content that I got 5 laps in. Plus, I was looking forward to coming back home and re-uniting with my fellow Mongers and racing in Mster Cs again.

In the end I apparently raced in the Masters A race (DOH!) but I kept my kit clean. I just need to learn about other region's racing categories.